Mapua Institute of Technology

Muralla St. Intramuros Manila 1002, Philippines

CE120 0
ELEMENTARY SURVEYING
Errors in taping operation in
measuring length due to
temperature

Presented by:
PINEDA, Manuel John F.
SORITA, Mile Abraham

Topic to be discussed

Measurement of Distance
- Errors in taping operation in
measuring length due to temperature
One of the most fundamental
surveying operations is the
measurement of horizontal distance
between two points on the surface
of the earth.
Two basic methods of measurement
Direct
Used for determining horizontal distances
with a tape(chain) and/or an electronic
distance measuring instrument.
Indirect (the transit and stadia or theodolite
and stadia are used.)


Approaches
(measuring horizontal distance)
Pacing
Taping
Chaining
Optical Rangefinders
Odometers
Tachometry
Electronic Distance Measurement
Global Positioning System

Measuring with the aid of a tape
Accurate surveyors tapes are made of
steel or a steel alloy with a typical length
of 100 feet or 100 meters.
Non metallic tapes are now common
that are woven from synthetic yarns.
For very accurate measurements, the
temperature of the tape must be taken
into account, as well as the tension of
the pull.
Each steel tape had its own
temperature and tension coefficient
which was used to correct each
measurement.

Errors in taping operations in
measuring length due to
temperature
Most materials expand and contract
with temperature change, and this
affects taped distances. If a tape has
stretched due to heat it will read
shorter than it would at its normal (or
standard) temperature.

Errors in taping operations in
measuring length due to
temperature
When measuring or laying out distances,
there is always a change
in temperature especially when the taping
operation requires time to do so. Usually, to
avoid circumstances where there is an
introduced error due to temperature, tapes
were standardized as a response to such
factor, and a standard temperature for the
tape determined.
Errors in taping operations in
measuring length due to
temperature
The correction of the tape length due to
change in temperature is given by:





Where:
Cf is the correction to be applied
T is the observed temperature at time of measurement
Ts temperature which the tape is standardized
C coefficient of thermal expansion
L length of the line measured
Correction due to temperature
The correction Cf is added to L to
obtain the corrected distance.

d = L + Cf

Usually, for common tape measurements, the
tape used is a steel tape with coefficient of
thermal expansion C equal to 0.0000116 units
per unit length per degree Celsius change.
This means that the tape changes length by
1.16 mm per 10 m tape per 10 C change
from the standard temperature of the tape.

Sample Problem:

The length of one side of a property was
measured as 28.4 m. The temperature during
observation was 39 degree celcius. The tape
was standardized as 30m at 20 degree celsius.
And the coefficient of expansion was
0.0000116 per degree celcius. Calculate for
the corrected distance.

Given:
L = 28.4 m
C = 0.0000116 units per unit length per degree Celsius change.
T = 39 deg. Celsius
Ts = 20 deg. Celsius
Required: D = ?
Solution:
Cf = (0.0000116)(28.4)(39-20)
Cf = -0.00230608
D = L + Cf ;
= 28.4 + (-0.00230608) = 28.39769392m
following the correct no. of significant fig.
= 28.4 m

Sample Problem:

The length of one side of a property was
measured as 28.4 m. The temperature during
observation was 13 degree celcius. The tape
was standardized as 30m at 20 degree celsius.
And the coefficient of expansion was
0.0000116 per degree celcius. Calculate for
the corrected distance.

References:
http://faculty.kfupm.edu.sa/CE/hawahab/
WEBPAGE/CE260/NOTES/2Chapter%202%20
Linear%20Distance%20Measurement.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_correctio
n_(surveying)#Correction_due_to_temperat
ure

http://sudeshnairs.webs.com/surveying/4_u
elsurveyingmeasurement.pdf